Walmart Foundation to invest $3.5 mn to strengthen FPOs in Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal.

Walmart Foundation has announced three new grants in Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal with an aim to empower smallholder farmers through the Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) framework.

This includes $1.7 million to ACCESS Development Services for economic empowerment and income enhancement of farmers in Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, $1.09 million to SRIJAN to improve the lives of small and marginal farmers and promote women as rural entrepreneurs, and $1.1 million to Action for Social Advancement (ASA) to enhance the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, both in Madhya Pradesh.

These projects are expected to reach 39 FPOs and over 60,000 smallholder farmers, Walmart Foundation said in a statement.

“Over the years, Walmart Foundation has invested in improving and strengthening the livelihoods of smallholder farmers through our grantee partners in India. We have invested over $25 million towards this since 2018. With the new grants of over $3.5 million, we hope to significantly advance the work of ACCESS Development Services, SRIJAN, and ASA in their efforts to build and empower FPOs through training on sustainable agriculture models. This will enable FPOs to enhance rural incomes and increase market access to farmers through the power of collectivisation,” said Julie Gehrki, Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer at Walmart Foundation.

HBL